Slice

Following Madha and Kala, Gara felt a piercing stare from behind.

Indeed, Langga's scrutinizing gaze was fixed on the two boys, especially on Gara's hand, which was still cutely clutching the hem of Madha's shirt.

Doesn't he know his friend likes him? Why does he still act so dependent?

Despite his internal scolding, Langga allowed the trio to leave the reception room.

Beside the Mayor's Office stood a two-story building made of solid wood. "Community Hall" was boldly displayed on the sign at its facade.

Inside, a spacious room boasted shiny wooden floors. Several windows lined the side wall, flooding the area with light.

Straight ahead, a painting of an old, bearded man holding a mortar and pestle dominated the wall. Gara guessed it was the same herbalist Liner depicted in the town square statue. There were also paintings of several other unfamiliar figures.

To the right of the painting, a staircase ascended to the second floor, and to the left, a door.

Two of the noble newbie Liners headed upstairs, while Orman moved toward the door. In the spacious room, only Zana with her Liner tutor, Madha, Kala, and Gara remained.

Kala turned to Gara, a gentle smile on her face. "Take your time here, Gara. I'm going to guide Madha in activating his Talent first. But if you have any questions about your own Talent, just ask me."

Gara took a few steps back, observing them. He wanted to see how a senior Liner guided someone, especially since his own earnest attempts to help Madha yesterday had yielded nothing.

"For your Talent, Flesh Shield, you have to defend yourself from attacks." Kala proceeded to send a wind ball towards Madha. It seemed her Talent was related to wind.

Gara clicked his tongue, certain it wouldn't succeed. They had tried that very method yesterday.

But to his surprise, there was a slight change in Madha's defending hand. His skin seemed to thicken.

"How... I was sure we used the same technique yesterday. He even got drenched until he was wrinkled..." Gara murmured, disbelieving what he saw.

"That's because that boy would never consider your attack to be truly violent." A deep voice sounded in his ear, making him jump slightly.

"What are you doing here?" Gara snapped subconsciously at the silver-haired man behind him. He then quickly clamped his mouth shut.

With a smirk, Langga replied, "What's wrong with me checking the progress of these newbie Liners?"

"I didn't mean that..."

"Is it your hobby..." Langga's gaze lingered for a few seconds on Gara's pretty face. "...to act like you don't know how to behave?"

"What?!" Gara returned his gaze unflinchingly.

"If not for our past encounter, if I were any other noble, you would be beheaded right now, even as a Liner," Langga stated sternly.

A shiver shot through Gara's body. He gulped, lowering his gaze, though his posture remained upright, showing no fear in Langga's eyes.

His black, fluffy hair was right at Langga's eye level. This Professor subconsciously raised his hand, wanting to feel that fluffy hair again, just like that night.

But Gara quickly stepped back, shooting a strange look at Langga's hand.

Not wanting to be accused of rude behavior, Gara shifted his expression to a calm one. He redirected his gaze to Madha and Kala.

"Before, did you mean Madha will never use his Talent if I'm the one attacking him?" Gara steered the conversation back.

"Not really. Activating a Talent is much harder than simply using it. Once he's accustomed to his Talent, he can easily control it with his mind," Langga answered, seemingly also keen to drop their bickering.

"But perhaps it's because my Talent also isn't offensive, that's why I couldn't attack Madha effectively." Gara replied.

"You're wrong. Your Talent, Unlimited Water, doesn't define what it can do. It only defines how much. The only thing set in stone is the quantity, unlimited. Which means, if you truly learn it, you'll find that your Talent can do far more than you think."

Gara shifted his gaze to Langga. Perhaps this was indeed the difference between the elite from the capital. He genuinely knew more than people from a small town.

"Could you teach me more?"

His blinking hazel eyes, slightly open mouth, and delicate face with a pitiful expression enchanted Langga for a moment.

"Professor Alterian!" Gara called him, snapping Langga from his brain's filtering of Gara's face.

Langga nodded.

He gestured for them to move to the left side, while Madha and Kala practiced on the right, and Zana practiced near the staircase.

They set up about four meters apart.

"First, imagine you want to attack me. Gushing water can attack, so think about another way that could cause damage," Langga began.

Gara's gaze fell on Zana. He remembered this girl had the Wind Slice Talent.

Slicing?

With his hand, he made a slicing gesture. Water streamed from his hand as if performing a slice, but the distance was too short, unable to reach Langga yet.

At least, now he knew he could create other forms.

He tried again and again. Each time, his water became thinner and traveled further than before. Langga stood there with a stoic expression, observing Gara's live progress.

At some point, Gara's water reached Langga. His eyes sparkled. He truly had made significant progress. He didn't feel tired at all, though his water supply was, as promised, unlimited.

Langga waited for him to stop, expecting him to be drained of either mental or physical stamina. But this boy had more endurance than he'd thought.

"Focus! I'm going to attack you!" Gara exclaimed with joy.

From this distance, Langga could still see glowing stars in the boy's eyes. He let out a faint smile.

"What a Talent."

...